Things to do in the Okanagan: Perfect for Retirement

1. Stroll along cherry orchards in full bloom.
2. Taste some of BC’s finest at Black Hills Winery.
3. Walk the desert when June’s wildflowers are blooming.
4. Stock up on fresh berries and baked goods at the Saturday morning farmers’ market.
5. Hike Anarchist Mountain and peer into Washington State from the lookout.
6. Lunch at one of several farm-to-table and vine-to-glass restaurants.
7. Cycle the Golden Mile’s wineries or the Kettle Valley Railway trails.
8. Eat a peach straight off the tree and let the juice run down your chin.
9. Listen to legends of the coyote in a multi-sensory theatre at the Nk’Mip Desert Cultural Centre.
10. Fill your basket at one of the many roadside fruit stands.
11. Take in an outdoor concert in the amphitheatre at Tinhorn Creek Winery.
12. Look for bighorn sheep on the cliffs above Vaseaux Lake.

Life at the Cottages

The natural beauty, temperate climate, and wine country location add up to a unique lifestyle for all seasons, with unlimited opportunities for both outdoor recreation and indoor comforts. It’s always an appropriate season to curl up with a book, gather the family for Scrabble, or relax over lunch at Burrowing Owl Winery’s legendary Sonora Room. Evening brings outdoor concerts at Tinhorn Creek Winery’s amphitheatre. The Cottages are positioned between Osoyoos and Oliver, conveniently close to the shops, restaurants, and markets of two towns.

Osoyoos Lake

Osoyoos Lake is said to be the warmest lake in Canada—easy to get into, yet refreshing on a hot afternoon. Perfect for swimming, floating, fishing, and boating. Its still surface is ideal for waterskiing, yet it sees very little boat traffic near The Cottages. The calm, quiet north end of the lake is a well-kept secret, and this is where The Cottages sit, looking out over their own secluded cove. And when you crave the livelier resort atmosphere of the south shore, it’s only a short boat ride away.

The Golden Mile

The Golden Mile describes a stretch of Highway 97 between Fairview and Road 18. It is Canada’s answer to Napa, and synonymous with exceptional winemaking. It was so named because the location, geography, soil, and climate are ideal for growing the grapes that produce truly noteworthy wines. Some of BC’s most renowned wineries are located here, including Road 13, Burrowing Owl, and Tinhorn Creek. The Cottages are located steps away from The Golden Mile, within an easy cycle of several wineries.

Hiking, Biking and Golf

This semi-desert landscape offers some of the best trails anywhere, for adventures on two wheels or two legs. Explore the breathtaking 20-kilometre ride between Oliver and Osoyoos, following the scenic Okanagan River and linking the tasting rooms of several fine wineries. For mountain bikers, the slopes just west of Osoyoos feature rustic old jeep roads and single track courses. Golfers can choose from the 36-holes at Osoyoos Golf and Country Club, the Les Furber designed Fairview Mountain Golf Club at Oliver, or play Frisbee Golf at Mount Baldy.

Winter Sports

This region is a paradise for winter sports enthusiasts. Penticton’s Apex Mountain is about 95km away, and Mount Baldy is closer still. 0nly a 40-minute drive, it offers magnificent in-your-backyard slopes. A typical annual snowfall of over 20 feet provides knee-deep champagne powder for downhill skiing and snowboarding, cross country, snowshoeing, and tobogganing.